Information processing device and control method for the same, control program, computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

The present invention provides an information processing device that comprises an information storage section for storing device setting information of the information processing device and a program for bringing the information processing device into operation; a firmware version judgment section for comparing, upon reception of updating data that includes device setting information and version information, the version information of a program contained in the updating data and version information of the program stored in the storage section; wherein: an upgrading judgment section brings the acquirement section into operation to obtain a program corresponding to the version information of a program contained in the updating data so as to update the program stored in the storage section and the device setting information when the version information of a program contained in the updating data and the version information of the program stored in the storage section are not identical, and updates the device setting information when the version information of a program contained in the updating data and the version information of the program stored in the storage section are identical.

Description

[0001] This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on patent application No. 2003 / 418258 filed in Japan on Dec. 16, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing device suitable for a network system made up of plural information processing devices connected via a communication line wherein device setting information is updated through the communication line. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]“Device cloning” has invented to duplicate setting of a device to others in order to realize simultaneous and uniform setting of plural devices and for ease of burden in separate setting for each device. When the device cloning is enforced between plural devices that use different versions of firmware, particularly when the device in the receiving side uses an older version than the device in the sending end and besides the number of setting items in the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] With the foregoing arrangement, judgment is carried out as to whether or not the program needs to be upgraded before carrying out updating of the device setting information. On this account, for example, it is possible to securely prevent malfunction of the device that may occur when only the device setting information is updated. With this function, the present invention provides the information processing device free from problems in operation even when only the device setting information is updated. Further, this arrangement allows simultaneous updating of the device setting information and the program.

[0009] With the foregoing arrangement, the item comparison section carries out comparison between type of items of the device setting information contained in the updating data having been externally supplied, and type of items of the device setting information of the program that has been previously registered in the information storage section. Then, according to the result of comparison, judgment can be carried out as to whether or not the program needs to be upgraded. Further, when all of the type of items contained in the device setting information stored in the storage section is contained in the type of items contained in the device setting information of the updating data, the updating section updates only the device setting information. With this function, the present invention provides the information processing device free from problems in operation regardless of the version of the program even when only the device setting information is updated.

Problems solved by technology

When the device cloning is enforced between plural devices that use different versions of firmware, particularly when the device in the receiving side uses an older version than the device in the sending end and besides the number of setting items in the receiver device is less than that of the sender device, the receiver device may have some difficulties in operating completely like the sender device or may not start up in the first place.

For example, if the parameter is shifted between two different versions of program, the device may not work properly.

Specifically, the Tokukaihei 08-251336 has a problem that the user needs to care of necessity of concurrent upgrading operation of the program whenever the parameter shifting is performed.

Images